Arturo G. Soliven

In the small barrio of Alos Alaminos, Pangasinan, Arturo G. Soliven was born on April 3, 1938. His proud parents were Antonio and Trinidad Soliven. While at a very young age, Arturo’s father died, leaving his mother to raise him and his brother, Jose, as a single parent. Despite the difficulties and obstacles that life threw their way, they managed to survive and do well in life. After graduating from the Alos Academy, Arturo worked in a pharmaceutical lab in Manila. He did that for a few years before joining the United States Navy in 1963.

After completing Navy boot camp in San Diego, Arturo’s first assignment was in Washington D.C .before being transferred to Omaha, Nebraska. While in D.C., he was introduced by his cousin, Ben Frando, to Tina Quiaot who was in Chicago at the time. They corresponded with each other through letters and phone calls. In late 1964, Arturo proposed to Tina. With the generous help of Rear Admiral Lyndon, Arturo married Tina at the Church of Angels Catholic Church on January 3, 1966. They had two children, Dennis and Perla, who were two years apart. Shortly after Perla was born, Arturo got stationed at Subic Naval Base for the next 3 years. In 1972, he came back to the U.S. where he was stationed in San Diego, California.

For the first two years, they lived in a two bedroom apartment in National City. Since they initially only had one car, Arturo would let his wife, an RN, use the car to drive to her job while he would literally walk about 8 miles to the 32nd Naval Station in the morning and then walk back the same 8 miles back home in the late afternoon. Thankfully, they eventually got a second car and moved to a house in Paradise Hills. Arturo retired from the U.S. Navy after serving 20+ years. After about a month or two of retirement from the Navy, he continued to work for the Navy. Overall he had 30 years of Federal service.

Arturo loved to spend time with his family and always did his best for them. He was a very kind, generous, and hospitable man who was always there for relatives and family friends. His favorite things to do were cooking, gardening, fishing, and dancing. On the weekends, his children would wake up to music playing and often find him dancing with their Mom. He loved family gatherings and would be found talking up a storm with and entertaining everyone there. He was well loved by everyone.

After months of battling illness, Arturo passed away peacefully with family at his side on April 23, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Tina, and two children, Dennis and Perla and their families. Arturo touched many lives through his kindness and generosity. He will always be remembered as a great man and loving person.